Designed for children aged 3 years and older, it allows youngsters who are ready to move on from highchairs but are too small for ordinary chairs to literally bridge the gap to reach the table comfortably.
Made by Baby Bjorn, a Swedish firm, the Booster Chair’s Scandinavian roots shine through in its crisp white shade and minimalist shape.
What we love
The Baby Bjorn Booster Chair is one of the most simple yet useful products I have used since my son Kasper was born. It comes in one piece and with just a few sentences of instructions. You simply place the seat on top of an ordinary chair, pull out a strap underneath and clip it together, before turning a screw to tighten it and ensure a secure fit. This also locks to prevent children from releasing it.
The seat base itself is textured to prevent little bottoms from sliding off and it’s ridged slightly around the edge to provide support.
The base is non-slip to prevent it falling off the chair and I leave it on ‘Kasper’s chair’ permanently, so it sits there without cluttering up my kitchen.
The height is just right, not so high I worry about my son falling off but tall enough so he can easily rest on the table and enjoy his food.
Despite feeling very solid, the Baby Bjorn Booster Chair is surprisingly light and we’ve carried it with us just about everywhere since we got it, using it when we visit friends and family and in restaurants. We’ve only found one chair it doesn’t fit - that was a very wide antique model at a hotel, the likes of which we’re unlikely to encounter again! The strap can also be retracted when taken off, which is another useful feature of its portability.
Although my son has mostly left the messy eating stage behind, there are still occasional spills and the booster seat wipes clean easily. As the strap is underneath, you simply have to clean the base, which still looks as good as new after a few weeks of continual use.
I was sceptical about whether Kasper would be comfortable in the Booster Chair when it arrived as it doesn’t have a high back, but as Baby Bjorn’s own work with paediatricians has shown, my son like other children, naturally sits upright and is happy without a backrest.
What to watch out for
It’s difficult to fault this product but it is worth pointing out that with a RRP of £59.99, it is quite an investment. Mums may be tempted to make their own ‘booster’ using a few cushions, but the Baby Bjorn option definitely provides a safer alternative.
As you might expect,te Baby Bjorn Booster Chair can only be used on chairs with a back. It is not suitable for bar stools, footstools or chairs with a round seat but this hasn’t been a problem for us.
Kasper has really enjoyed the freedom of being out of his highchair and at the table with us. And it’s a relief not to have to clean food out of the endless nooks and crannies of his old seat. With this in mind, perhaps the only other minor criticism with the chair is that it’s only recommended from 3 years when younger children could also benefit!
Who is the Baby Bjorn Booster Chair best for?
Parents who want a faff-free way for their child to join in with the grown-ups at meal times.
An excellent if slightly expensive product, the Baby Bjorn Booster Chair helps make sharing food an enjoyable and sociable experience for toddlers and preschoolers past that highchair stage.
